Your pool is the centerpiece of your Long Island backyard, but the landscaping around it transforms a swimming hole into a true outdoor living space. The right combination of plants, hardscaping, lighting, and features can create a resort-like atmosphere that adds beauty, privacy, and real property value. Here are landscaping ideas specifically designed for Long Island's climate, soil, and suburban lot sizes.
Native and Climate-Appropriate Plants for Long Island Pool Areas
Choosing the right plants around your pool on Long Island means balancing aesthetics with practicality. You want greenery that looks lush, tolerates our humid summers and cold winters (USDA Zone 7a/7b), and does not create a maintenance nightmare by dropping leaves, berries, or debris into your pool.
Ornamental grasses are among the best choices for Long Island poolscapes. Varieties like Karl Foerster feather reed grass, Blue Oat grass, and Miscanthus provide movement, height, and a contemporary feel without heavy leaf drop. They are drought-tolerant once established, thrive in Long Island's sandy soil, and require minimal maintenance — just a late-winter cutback before new growth emerges.
Daylilies and Black-Eyed Susans are Long Island natives that bloom from early summer through fall, perfectly timed with your swim season. They tolerate heat, humidity, and the reflected light from pool water. Plant them in clusters along the pool perimeter or in raised beds for pops of color that require almost no maintenance.
Hydrangeas are a Long Island classic for good reason. Endless Summer, Limelight, and Annabelle varieties thrive in our climate and provide massive blooms from June through September. Position them at the corners of your pool area or along fence lines where they can fill in and create soft, natural-looking borders. They do drop spent blooms, so keep them a few feet back from the pool edge.
Lavender deserves a place in every Long Island poolscape. It is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and produces a calming fragrance that enhances the relaxation factor of your pool area. English lavender varieties perform well in Long Island's climate and attract pollinators without attracting bees aggressively to the water.
Plants to avoid near pools: Stay away from fruit-bearing trees, large deciduous shade trees directly over the pool (oaks, maples), anything with invasive root systems that could damage pool plumbing, and thorny plants like roses near high-traffic areas. Avoid pine trees, which drop needles that clog skimmers and stain pool surfaces.
Privacy Hedges and Screening
Long Island lots — especially in Nassau County — can be tight. Privacy around your pool is not just a preference; it is essential for enjoyment. Here are the most effective screening options:
Green Giant Arborvitae is the workhorse of Long Island privacy landscaping. It grows 3 to 5 feet per year, reaches 20 to 30 feet at maturity, and maintains dense coverage year-round. Plant them 5 to 6 feet apart for a solid green wall within 2 to 3 years. They handle Long Island's salt air reasonably well, though South Shore waterfront properties may see some browning.
Skip Laurel is an excellent choice for a more refined, manicured look. It grows 10 to 15 feet tall, tolerates shade and sun equally well, and produces glossy evergreen leaves that look polished year-round. Skip Laurels are particularly popular in the upscale North Shore communities of Long Island like Manhasset, Roslyn, and Cold Spring Harbor.
Leyland Cypress grows extremely fast and provides dense, feathery coverage. It works well as a windbreak on exposed Long Island lots, which is a bonus for pool areas where wind can make swimming uncomfortable in spring and fall.
Privacy screens and pergolas: For smaller Long Island lots where you cannot wait for hedges to grow, consider architectural privacy solutions. Vertical cedar slat screens, aluminum louver panels, and composite privacy walls can be installed during pool construction and provide instant coverage. Pair them with climbing plants like Clematis or Wisteria for a softened look over time.
Hardscaping: Pool Decking and Patios
The hardscape around your pool defines the space and determines how you use it. On Long Island, the most popular pool decking options include:
Stamped concrete is the most common choice for Long Island pools due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness. It can be stamped and colored to mimic natural stone, slate, or brick at a fraction of the price. Cost on Long Island runs $12 to $22 per square foot installed. Choose a light color and non-slip texture finish — dark stamped concrete absorbs heat and becomes painfully hot in direct summer sun.
Natural bluestone is a premium choice that is widely available on Long Island and looks beautiful around pools. Full-color bluestone with its mix of blues, grays, and rust tones is the classic Long Island poolscape material. It stays relatively cool underfoot compared to concrete and pairs beautifully with both modern and traditional home styles. Expect to pay $25 to $45 per square foot installed on Long Island.
Travertine pavers have become increasingly popular on Long Island for their natural beauty and heat-resistant properties. Travertine stays cool even in direct sun, making it comfortable for bare feet all day. It comes in ivory, walnut, and silver tones that complement most Long Island home exteriors. Cost is $20 to $35 per square foot installed.
Composite decking around above-ground or semi-inground pools is a durable, splinter-free option. Brands like Trex and TimberTech resist fading, staining, and Long Island's freeze-thaw cycles. While more expensive than wood ($30 to $50 per square foot), composite decking lasts 25 years or more with virtually no maintenance.
Regardless of the material, plan for proper drainage. Long Island's clay-heavy soil in some areas and high water tables in others make drainage planning essential. Your pool deck should slope slightly away from the pool and away from your home, directing water to designated drainage areas.
Outdoor Lighting for Pool Areas
Strategic lighting extends your pool enjoyment well past sunset and dramatically enhances safety and ambiance. Long Island summer evenings are made for nighttime swimming, and the right lighting design makes all the difference:
In-pool LED lights are essential. Modern LED pool lights offer color-changing options, remote control operation, and energy efficiency that makes them inexpensive to run. Install at least two lights in a standard residential pool for even illumination. Color-changing LEDs let you set the mood — warm white for relaxed evening swims, blue for a resort vibe, or dynamic color shifts for pool parties.
Path and step lighting is a safety requirement and a design opportunity. Low-voltage LED path lights along walkways from the house to the pool prevent trips and falls while creating an inviting approach. Recessed step lights built into your pool deck or stairway risers provide subtle guidance without harsh glare.
Landscape uplighting transforms your pool area at night. Position uplights at the base of specimen trees, privacy hedges, or architectural features to create depth and drama. LED uplights on ornamental grasses create stunning shadow play against privacy fences and walls.
String lights and overhead lighting define outdoor rooms and create intimacy. Commercial-grade LED string lights draped between posts or trees over your pool patio provide warm, ambient illumination perfect for entertaining. For covered structures like pergolas or pavilions, consider recessed can lights or pendant fixtures rated for damp locations.
All outdoor lighting near your pool must be installed by a licensed electrician and meet NEC code requirements for wet locations. On Long Island, pool area electrical work requires a permit and inspection.
Outdoor Kitchens and Cooking Areas
An outdoor kitchen next to your pool turns your backyard into the ultimate Long Island entertainment space. Long Islanders love to grill, and pairing a cooking area with your pool creates a natural flow for summer gatherings:
Basic setup ($5,000 to $12,000): A built-in grill, small countertop prep area, and storage cabinet. This handles most casual pool-day cooking needs. Position it within sight of the pool but far enough that grease splatter does not reach the water or deck.
Mid-range setup ($12,000 to $30,000): A full outdoor kitchen island with a built-in gas grill, side burner, refrigerator, sink with running water, and ample counter space. Add a bar-height counter facing the pool for a swim-up bar experience. This level is increasingly popular in Long Island pool renovations.
High-end setup ($30,000 to $75,000+): A complete outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, smoker, kegerator, ice maker, dishwasher, and dedicated dining area under a covered structure. These setups are common in the Hamptons and North Shore communities and can rival indoor kitchens in functionality.
For all outdoor kitchens on Long Island, use materials rated for freeze-thaw cycles. Natural stone or brick veneer over a steel frame and concrete board substrate is the standard construction method. Stainless steel appliances should be 304-grade or higher to resist corrosion from humidity and salt air.
Fire Features
Nothing elevates a Long Island pool area like fire. The contrast of flame and water creates a focal point that makes your backyard feel like a luxury resort:
Fire pits are the most accessible fire feature for Long Island pool areas. A built-in gas fire pit ($2,000 to $6,000) provides instant ambiance with no smoke, sparks, or ash. Position it on the pool patio at a comfortable distance from the water — close enough to see the reflections on the pool surface but far enough to keep seating areas safe. Round fire pits encourage conversation; rectangular fire tables work well alongside rectangular pools.
Fire bowls on pedestals flank pool entry steps or anchor the corners of your pool deck for a dramatic architectural statement. Gas-powered fire bowls ($800 to $2,500 each) provide eye-level flames that are visible from inside the pool.
Fire and water features combine both elements for maximum visual impact. Waterfall spillways with fire troughs above them, fire bowls integrated into raised pool walls, and scupper-and-flame combinations are increasingly requested by Long Island homeowners designing new pools. These features typically add $5,000 to $15,000 to your pool project depending on complexity.
All gas fire features on Long Island require a licensed plumber for gas line installation, a permit from your town, and inspection. Ensure your natural gas or propane supply can support the additional BTU demand alongside your pool heater, outdoor kitchen, and home heating system.
Putting It All Together: Design Principles
The best Long Island poolscapes follow a few core design principles:
- Create zones: Separate your pool area into swimming, lounging, cooking, and gathering zones. Each area should feel connected but distinct
- Use consistent materials: Limit your hardscape palette to two or three complementary materials. Too many textures and colors feel chaotic
- Plan for four seasons: Long Island has a 4 to 5 month swim season, but you should enjoy your outdoor space year-round. Fire features, covered structures, and evergreen plantings keep the space inviting in fall and winter
- Scale to your lot: A quarter-acre Nassau County lot needs different treatment than a half-acre Suffolk County property. Work with your designer to maximize impact without overcrowding the space
- Budget for landscaping: Plan to spend 10 to 20 percent of your total pool budget on landscaping. Skipping this step leaves your pool looking unfinished and diminishes both your enjoyment and your property value
Ready to Design Your Dream Pool Area?
The right landscaping transforms a pool into an outdoor living space that your family will use for decades. Whether you are building a new pool or upgrading the area around your existing one, professional design makes a tremendous difference. Schedule your free consultation and let's plan a poolscape that makes your Long Island backyard the place everyone wants to be.